<p>Election Commission of India (ECI), while declaring the dates for Maharastra and Haryana assembly elections, also announced to hold by-elections in Karnataka next month.</p>.<p>The Byelections will be held on October 21 in 15 constituencies, recently vacated by rebel MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) of Congress and Janata Dal (Secular). The counting will happen in the same week on October 24.</p>.<p>To recall, MLAs from Congress-JD(S) coalition government, citing non-co-operation from former CM HD Kumaraswamy in terms of allocation of funds to their respective constituencies, resigned from their posts in July 2019.</p>.<p>After several days of confusion over the resignations, the Speaker<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/karnataka-speaker-disqualifies-14-mlas-750207.html" target="_blank"> KR Ramesh Kumar</a> under Anti-Defection Law disqualified 17 members (13 from Congres, 3 from JDS and one independent) from participating elections till the end of the current 15th Assembly (2018-23), provided there is no midterm poll in Karnataka.</p>.<p>As per the notification, ECI will be holding the by-elections for the 15 of the 17 vacated constituencies including Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagara, Chikkaballapura, K R Pura, Yeshvanthapura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Hosakote, Krishnarajpet and Hunsur in Karnataka.</p>.<p>Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Sanjeev Kumar said that the elections cannot be held in the remaining two constituencies - Raja Rajeshwari Nagar and Maski, as there is an election petition pending in the High Court. "These two constituencies are different from other cases, as the election petition has been filed in HC seeking the disqualification of the elected representatives in 2018 soon after the election results were announced. Since the petition is still pending before HC, we cannot conduct the election, " Sanjeev Kumar said.</p>.<p>All the disqualified MLAs have filed a petition in the Apex court to overturn the disqualification order. The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/sc-judge-recuses-to-hear-disqualified-karnataka-mlas-761943.html" target="_blank">next hearing</a> is slated to take place on September 23.</p>.<p>The notification for the by-elections will go live on September 23 and the last date for filing nominations is on September 30.</p>.<p>The scrutiny of the nomination is on October 1 and the last date for withdrawing the candidature is October 3. The last date for completion of the entire election process is on October 27.</p>.<p><strong>No code of conduct for flood relief and Dasara</strong></p>.<p>Sanjeev Kumar cleared that the code of conduct will not influence the flood relief works in North Karnataka and World famous Dasara festival. "Special permission has been given to Dasara and flood relief programs with a condition of no political participation. The code of conduct will come into effect in all the 15 constituencies along with its respective districts, " Sanjeev Kumar added.</p>
<p>Election Commission of India (ECI), while declaring the dates for Maharastra and Haryana assembly elections, also announced to hold by-elections in Karnataka next month.</p>.<p>The Byelections will be held on October 21 in 15 constituencies, recently vacated by rebel MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) of Congress and Janata Dal (Secular). The counting will happen in the same week on October 24.</p>.<p>To recall, MLAs from Congress-JD(S) coalition government, citing non-co-operation from former CM HD Kumaraswamy in terms of allocation of funds to their respective constituencies, resigned from their posts in July 2019.</p>.<p>After several days of confusion over the resignations, the Speaker<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/karnataka-speaker-disqualifies-14-mlas-750207.html" target="_blank"> KR Ramesh Kumar</a> under Anti-Defection Law disqualified 17 members (13 from Congres, 3 from JDS and one independent) from participating elections till the end of the current 15th Assembly (2018-23), provided there is no midterm poll in Karnataka.</p>.<p>As per the notification, ECI will be holding the by-elections for the 15 of the 17 vacated constituencies including Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagara, Chikkaballapura, K R Pura, Yeshvanthapura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Hosakote, Krishnarajpet and Hunsur in Karnataka.</p>.<p>Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Sanjeev Kumar said that the elections cannot be held in the remaining two constituencies - Raja Rajeshwari Nagar and Maski, as there is an election petition pending in the High Court. "These two constituencies are different from other cases, as the election petition has been filed in HC seeking the disqualification of the elected representatives in 2018 soon after the election results were announced. Since the petition is still pending before HC, we cannot conduct the election, " Sanjeev Kumar said.</p>.<p>All the disqualified MLAs have filed a petition in the Apex court to overturn the disqualification order. The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/sc-judge-recuses-to-hear-disqualified-karnataka-mlas-761943.html" target="_blank">next hearing</a> is slated to take place on September 23.</p>.<p>The notification for the by-elections will go live on September 23 and the last date for filing nominations is on September 30.</p>.<p>The scrutiny of the nomination is on October 1 and the last date for withdrawing the candidature is October 3. The last date for completion of the entire election process is on October 27.</p>.<p><strong>No code of conduct for flood relief and Dasara</strong></p>.<p>Sanjeev Kumar cleared that the code of conduct will not influence the flood relief works in North Karnataka and World famous Dasara festival. "Special permission has been given to Dasara and flood relief programs with a condition of no political participation. The code of conduct will come into effect in all the 15 constituencies along with its respective districts, " Sanjeev Kumar added.</p>
